'Cats outlast O's in thrilling pair of one-run extra-inning games

What started as a route turned into a heavyweight slugfest in the nightcap of Augusta's home softball doubleheader with Mulvane Thursday night.

Augusta was on the short end of two one-run games, both of which went into extra innings.

The Orioles scored five runs before their first out and pounded the Wildcats for a 9-0 lead to start Game 2. Taylor Williams had a 2-RBI single and Jacie Gorges hit a 2-RBI triple. Kalie Robinson, Katy Nordman, Madie Becker and Christina Downs all drove in a run during the inning.

The Wildcats fought back with two runs in the second, four in the third, and two in the fourth to climb back within a run at 9-8. The Wildcats rattled off three straight RBI hits in the third.

The Orioles scored a run in the bottom of the fourth, then added two in the fifth for a 12-8 lead. Mulvane answered with four runs in the sixth, three of which came off a home run, to tie the game at 12.

During the sixth, Gorges scored on a passed ball, Downs drove in another run and Robinson had a sacrifice RBI to give the Orioles a 15-12 lead.

Mulvane stayed alive with a 2-RBI double, then later scored on a wild pitch to tie it 15-15 in the seventh. The Orioles left two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh.

Neither team scored in the first extra inning. With two outs in the top of the ninth, Mulvane pieced together two hits to drive in a run. The Orioles got one baserunner in the bottom of the inning, but could not tie the game.

Both teams had 20 hits in the contest.

Game 1 went the opposite way. Augusta made some defensive errors that led to a big early lead by the Wildcats. The Orioles slowly chipped away at the lead to pull within one at 6-5 going into the final inning.

Gorges led off with a single. Becker later put runners on the corners, which set up Downs, who came through with a sacrifice RBI. The Orioles had a chance to win, but Mulvane held them off and forced extra innings.

The Wildcats had a lead-off triple, then hit a sacrifice on a double play two batters later. The Wildcats added another run on an RBI single for an 8-6 lead.

Kelsi Sears hit an RBI single, but with two outs, the Wildcats got an easy groundout to end the game.

It was senior night for the Orioles, who will close the regular season on the road against Winfield Monday, Rose Hill Saturday, May 5 and Clearwater May 7.

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